Jamaica pile on medals at ISKA World Champs

Jamaica yesterday added 21 medals to their count at the International Sports Karate Association Amateur Members Association World Championship - six gold, four silver and 17 bronze - moving the host country's overall tally to 91 as seniors and veterans closed a thrilling day two at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Adding to the juniors' 12 gold won on Wednesday, the senior stars, led by Akino Lindsay's double gold in continuous and points sparring, +91kg, made a late charge to send the locals' stocks soaring and the crowd roaring with every point won across various weight divisions, some of which will be decided in finals slated for tonight's two-hour televised gala night.

Ecstatic Lindsay

Lindsay, who is aiming for four gold at the tournament to match his US Open exploits in July, was ecstatic and awaiting a gala-night sparring match-up, continuous sparring, against England's Connor Maloney in addition to team fighting.

"It's been a wonderful year, losing just one fight, so far," he said. "I am looking forward to continuing for the rest of the year with a tournament in New Jersey, but I won't be at the ITF World Cup later this month due to sponsorship issues."

Ackeem Lawrence won continuous sparring gold, -63kg, beating the United States' Andrew Adams. Donald Francis, who won gold as a junior fighter in Montego Bay at the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Cup four years ago, added a senior ISKA title to his name by landing -67kg points sparring.

Trevor Webb Jr won continuous sparring gold in -75kg, beating teammate Tahj Hewitt as Romario Martin secured bronze in the division.

Richard Stone won points sparring in -86kg, beating the Ukraine's Rylskiy Dima, notching a second ISKA Amateur Members Association title after winning in Germany 2016.

Advancing to the finals tonight are Olympian Kenneth Edwards and Nicholas Dusard, ISKA amateur champions from 2013 and 2014, respectively, along with Trique Tai-Loy and female fighters Marissa Jones and Sheckema Cunningham.

Edwards is down to battle Mark Rymer in -91kg points sparring whereas Jones will face the Ukraine's Iryna Butovska. Cunningham, who lost both points and continuous titles won last year in Greece, has a centre-stage gala rematch against Germany's Mona Kratzer, who had beaten her in points sparring yesterday.